Automatic brake control for power-propelled vehicles



Oct.

E. G. sTAUDE n. AUTOMATIC BRAKE CONTROL FCR PCWERTRCPELLED VEHICLES Original Filed Nov. l0, 1915 5 vSheets-Sheet 1 f7 j? #WE/vra@ f aM/y@ 57:40.95

Oct. 16 1923. 1,470,701

. E. G. sTAUDE AUTOMATIC BRAKE CONTROL FOR POWER PROPELLED VEHICLES original Fiied Nov. 1o, 1915 5 sheets-sheet 2 1.11 #ff-.5 3mwaa/2J mmm l @et E6 T923..

E. G. STAUDE AUTOMATIC BRAKE CONTROL FQR POWER PROPELLED VEHICLES* Original Filed Nov. l0 1915 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 0.1e,1923. mmm

E. G. STAUDE AUTOMATIC BRAKE CONTROL FQR POWER PROPELLED VEHICLES Original Filed Nov. l0, 1915 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 @m MS E923, E .mm

E, G. S11-AUDE AUTOMATIC BRAKE CONTROL FQR POWER PROPELLED VEHICLES Original Filed Nov. 10 1915 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented @et 16, v1923..

Application filed November 10, 1915, Serial Np. 60,751. Renewed March 22, 1920. Serial No.

To all whom t may concern Be it known that I, EDWIN G. STAUDE, citizen of the United States, resident of Minneapolis, 'county of Hennepin, State ot Minnesota, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Automatic Brake Controls for Power-propelled Vehicles, ot which the following is a specification.

In the operation of a power propelled vehicle, such as an automobile, several opera-r tions are necessary to throw out the clutch and set the brake, considerable effort on the part of the driver and a little time being required to perform these operations.

-The object of my invention is to provide means for automatically disengaging the clutch of a power propelled vehicle.

A further object is to dispense with a' manually operated brake mechanism land prevent the application of the brake until the clutch is released.

A further Objectis to provide an inelastic fluid brake with such connections that it cannot be applied without first closing the engine throttle, and a brake that is easily controlled and` equipped to develop any desire-d power for stopping the vehicle.

A' further object is to provide an inelastic fluid brake which is extremely sensitive in action and easily controlled, and being mounted in the transmission casing uses the oil therein, thereby dispenses with an additional oil receptacle, does not add materially to the bulk of the transmission, and eliminates the annoyance of leakage due to eX- posed packed joints.

A further object is to provide an apparatus which will be positive and reliable in its'action.

The invention consists generally in various constructions and combination, all as hereinafter described and particularly pointed out in the claimsp In the accompanying drawings forming part of this" specification,

Figure 1 is a sectional view through the casing of a transmission gearing of ordinary construction, illustrating the application of my invention thereto,

Figure 2-is a sectional view through the brake control mechanism taken on line --m of Figure 1, showing the normal running position of the parts,

Figure 3 is a similar view also taken "on line .va-m of Figure 1, illustrating the parts.

in position for setting the brake and throwino* out the clutch,

)ligure 4f is a plan sect-ion, through a portion of the apparatus, taken on line g/-y of Figure 3, showing the controlling valve and operating means therefor,

Figure 5 is a view illustrating the applica- I tion of the invention to the control foot levers of a vehicle,

Figure 6 illustrates the normal running position of the throttle accelerator lever,

Figure 7 is a perspective view in section of the pumping apparatus,

Figure 8 is a perspective view, also in section, of the eccentric o n which the pump gear is mounted,

Figure 9 is a sectional view of a modified construction,

Figure 10 is a vertical sectional view through the same, on line z-e of Figure 9.

In the drawingl have illustrated a preferable construction in which 2 represents the casing of a transmission gearing. 3 is the drive shaft from the clutch of an internal; combustion engine (not shown), having bearings at 4 in the transmission cas ing. 5 is a pinion, having external teeth. A gear 8 is mounted to slide on a shaft 9 and has internal teeth 10 to mesh with the teeth 6, an-d the shaft 9 has bearings 7 and 7 the former in the pinion 5. The gear 8 is moved back and forth, into 4or out of en gagement with the pinion 5 by a clutch arm 11. The shaft 9 projects through the casing of the transmission gearing and has means for connection with the rear axle (not shown). The pinion 5 meshes with a gear 12 keyed on a shaft 13 that is journaled in the lower walls of the transmission casing, the face of the pinion 5 being of suficient width to allow engagement of thiL teeth 6 with the teeth 10 of the gear 8 and the gear 12 at the same time. This engagement of the gear teeth 10 with the pinion 5 is made when a direct drive is desired.

A gear 14: -is also splined on the shaft 9 and has an operating arm 11a corres-ponding to the one described, and gears 15 and 16 of different size are keyed on the shaft 13 in the same manner as the gear 12. These gears provide for a variable speed, as usual in transmissions of this kind.

l also provide a gear 17 on the shaft 13 in connection with an idle gear 17 for meshing with the large gear 14 to reverse the driving shaft. This is ordinary construction in aptransmission reverslng gear and I make no claim to the same herein.

I will now proceed to describe in detail the application of my invention to the transmission gearing which may be of any preferred or usual construction. 18 is a housing, forming an extensionat one end of the transmission gearing. casing/ 1 9 is a'hub, keyed on the shaft 9 and provided wlth a radial flange 20, from which a` series of teeth 21 project, parallel with the axis of the hub (Figures 1, 2 and 3). An eccentric 22 is seated on the hub 19 and is carried 4by a plate 23 secured to the housing by pins 24- or other suitable means. A gear 25 is loosely mounted on the eccentric 22 and a crescentconstantly lubricated by the supply of oil in the transmission casing.

Beneath the housing 18 is a valve casing 28 communicating through a" port 29 with the lower portion -of the transmission casing and through a port 30 with a chamber 31. A port 32 leads from the valve casing .to a chamber 33 and the ports 34 form a communicating passage between the valve casing and the chamber in the transmission casing to equalize the pressure and provide for freedom of movement of the valve.

A valve plunger' 35 is mounted to slide in the casing and has a stem 36 on which discs 37 and 38 are m-ounted.- These discs are spaced apart sufficiently to bridge the port 32 and are so disposed with respect to the head 35 that when the disc 37 is on one side ofthe port32 and the disc 38 on the "same side, as indicated in Figure 2, the head 35 will be in position to close the port 30 while, if the head 35.be moved to the end of the valve casing, out of register with the port 30, the discs 37 and 38 will be disposed one upon each side of the port 32 and prevent the flow of fluid through the valve casing from the port 32 to the port 29.

A spring 39 is provided in the casing for holding the valve at one end there-of'andy the head 35 out of alignment with the port 30. The transmission casing is adapted to contain an inelastic Huid, such as oil. which rises to a levelvabove the valve casing 28 and may circulate therein through the port 29. The revolution of the gear teeth 21 co- -to which I make no claim in this application.

If the valve is in the position shown in Figure 3, the passage through the port 29 in the casing 28 from the port 32 will be closed, and as the oil continues to be pumped into' the chamber 33, some relief for the pressure must be found and I make use of it in the following manner:

A cylinder 40 communicates lwith the chamber 33 and is provided with a plunger 41 having a stem 42 in position to engage an arm 43 that is fastened on the shaft 44. A hub 45' is secured on saidshaft andl has an arm 46 connected through a rod 47 to a'lever 48 of the engine clutch (not shown).

A treadle 49 extends up through the foot board 50 in position to be operated by the foot of the driver of the car. When the valve is thrown to the position indicated in Figure 3, the passage 29 will be closed and the inelastic Huid accumulating in the chanishaft 52 having suitable bearings in the g housing of the transmission and provided at its upper end with a pinion 53 meshing with a rack 54 on oneI arm of Va bell crank 55 (Figure 4). The other arm 'of the bell crank llO to engage a. plate 63 and hold the lever and treadle in the position indicated in Figure 6 until the treadle is Inoved to oneside on its pivotal connection with ,the lever sufiiciently to disengage the stop lug, whereupon the spring 64 will return the lever and treadle to the normal position indicated in Figure 5.

An arm 65 has a shoulder 66 in the path of the lever 58 and a. rod 67 connects the arm 65 Withthe throttle. .The initial movement of the lever 58 from the position shown in 'f Figure 5 to that shown in Figure 6 will shift Figure 2, where the p-ump device will be inactive. Further movement of the treadle 61 will engage the lever 58 with the shoulder 66 and operate the throttle, the treadle device then having the function of an accelerator, and this use may continue with the further operation of the car until such time as it is desired to effect an automatic operation of the clutch. The driver will then release the treadle 61, allowing it to return through 'the powerof the spring 64 to the position shown in Figure 5, whereupon the spring 39, being released, will throw the valve to the position illustrated in Figure 3 and thev operation of the pump will create sufficient `pressure in the chamber 33 to raise the sure created in the chamber 33, I prefer to provide a relief consisting preferablyv of arranging an extension 28 on the housing 28 having a port 28 communicating with the valve chamber (Figure 4). A valve 29 is provided within said extension and has a seat 29 and a stem 30 fitting a socket 30" in a plug 31 that is tapped into said extension. The inner end of the plug engages a spring 31" that encircles the stem 30 and holds the valve against its seat with a yielding pressure, and a port 32 leads from the space within the extension on theopposite side of the valve 29' from the port 28 into the valve chamber. When, therefore, an extreme pressure is produced that isunnecessary for the work to be performed, the valve 29 will be'opened against the tension of its spring to provide a return passage into the transmission casing and permit the escape of the inelastic Huid therethrough. The degree of pressure in the pumping chamber before relief can, ofcourse, be regulated by the movement of the plug 31 and the tension of thespring 31".

In Fi ures 9 and 10 I have shown a slightly modied construction, which consists in mounting the pumping device entirely within the wallsof the transmission casing and using the gear and pinion for pumping the oil to create a pressure suli' .cient to operate the'clutch and brake pistons that Iare at present employed for driving the counter shaft of an ordinary selective type -of transmission gearing. AThe transmission 4 casing and the gearing corresponding to that heretofore described, I will indicate by the same reference numerals;

A housing is provided within the transmission casing enclosing a gear wheel 76 mounted on the shaft 13 and meshing with a pinion 77 on the' shaft 3, said pinion having va suitable clutch connection for engagement with the gear 10 in the manner already described with reference to Figure 1.

In the lower part of the transmission casing is a valve casing 78 in which a valve corresponding to the one heretofore described is mounted. The valve casing has a port 79 communicating with the interior of the transmission casing and a port 80 leading through the wall of the housing 75 to supply the inelastic fluid to the pumping gears. A passage 81 leads from the upper portion of the housing 75 to the valve casing and a pipe 82 communicates with this passage and with the lower portion of the cylinders 40 and 68 for delivering the inelastic fluid thereto for the purpose of operating the clutch and brake plungers.

When the parts are in the position indicated in FigureI 9, the inelastic fluid will be pumped up throughthe port 80 by the engagement of the teeth of the gear 76 with the pinion 77 and the outlet from the passage 81 being closed 'by the position of the valve, it follows that the fluid pressure must be discharged through the pipe 82 into the clutch and brake Aplunger cylinders. This pressure in the cylinders will raise the plungers and automatically. disengage the clutch and set the brake, the adjustment of the valve being obtained through the operation of the control lever in the manner heretofore described with reference to the other construction.

The quadrant 51, meshing with the rack of the valve, is preferably provided with a crank arm 52', and a rod 53 leading upwardly from this arm to a lever 54 pivoted at 55. An anti-friction roller 56 is mounted on one end of this lever and contacts with the surfaces 57 and 60 of the accelerator lever 58 in substantially the same manner as shown and 'described with reference to Figure 6. The relief for the pressure of oil in the pumping chamber and the passage 81 is' obtained by providing a port 81 in the upper part of the passage (Figure 10), normally closed by a valve 81" having a stem 82 that is slidable in a socket in a plug 83 that is tapped into the housing of the pump gears and may be moved`longitudinally to increase or decrease thetension of a spring 83 which encircles the stem 82 and bears m25 on the valve disc with a yielding pressure;- Evidentlv this pressure can be increased or diminished by the adjustment of the plug and an escape or relief provided for the inelastic Huid in the. passage 81 whenever the pressure' created by the pump exceeds a predetermined point.

lus

In the operation ofthe car, the-'driver will depress the treadle 61 to the position shown in Figure 6, thereby setting the controlling valve in the position shown in Figure 2, Where the lpump device will be inactive, the port30, or the inlet to the chamber 3l, being closed by the plunger'head 35. The clutch plunger andthe brake plunger Will therefore remain in the depressed position indicated in Figure 2, the pump gearsv will continue tobe inactive until such time as the controlling valve is moved to the position shown in Figure 3, whereupon the pumping gears will become active to raise the inelastic iuid through the chamber31 and around to the chamber 33, and the out- A let port 32 from this chamber being closed by the position of the valve, the accumula.- tion of pressure in the chamber 33 will obviously lift the clutch and brake plungers automatically and disengage the clutch and simultaneously set the brake.

If desired, I may dispense with the brake cylinder 68 and its piston for, as the pressure increases in the chamber 33, it will operate againstthe teeth of the gears4 21 and 25, thereby producing a braking action suicient to bring the car to a dead stop without the use of the service brake.

I claim as my invention:

1. An automatic control for power propelled vehicles comprising a pump, a fluid circulating system therefor, a controlling valve operable to open the suction side -of the pump to supply of iuid and close the exhaust side to render the pump active and create a pressure on the exhaust side of theI pump, means actuated by thed pressure on the 'exhaust side of said, pump, anda rod connected with said means and with the controlling mechanism of the vehicle.

2. In combination with a control lever,'a clutch rod, a hydraulically operated means for movingr said rod and disengaging the clutch, a controlling valve for said means set in a neutral position by the initial movement of said control lever and moved to a point to render said hydraulically operated means active through subsequent adjustment of said control lever.

3. An automatic control for power propelled vehicles comprising a pump, a {iuid circulating System therefor, means for open- 4 ing the suction side of the pump and closingv the exhaust side for creating a pressure on the exhaust side, aclutch, and a piston connected therewith and actuated by the pressure on said exhaust side of the pump for disengaging the clutch. l

4. IIn combination with a control lever and/'clutch rod, a casing to contain Aan inelastic iuid, a pump, a valve operable from vsaid. control lever and disposed to open the suction sideof the pump to create a pressure of the fluid on the exhaust side of the pump. and mechanism operatively related to the clutch rod and operable from the pressure on the exhaust side of the pump to release the clutch.

5. In combination with a control lever a casing to contain an inelastic Huid, a pump operatively connected with said trans mission gearing", means effecting aA cooperative connection between the exhaust side of the pump and clutch rod, and a valve operable from said control lever and disposed to open the suction side and close the exhaust side of the pum to create a pressure of the Huid on the ,ex aust side of the pump to operate the clutch rod and release the clutch.

6.`An yautomatic control for power propelled vehicles comprising a pump, a fluid circulating system therefor, means including a valve disposed to open the suction side and^close the exhaust side of the pump for creat-ing a pressure on the exhaust side of the pump, and means actuated by the pressure on the exhaust side for controlling the vehicle clutch.

7. An automatic control for power propelled vehicles comprisingfa pump, a {iuid' circulating system therefor, in communication with the transmission casing ofthe vehicle, a controlling device mounted to create a pressure on the exhaust side of the pump, a clutch rod and brake connection, and means actuated by the pressure on said'exhaust side for operating said clutch rod and brake connection.

8. In combination with acontrol lever,

a clutch rod and brake connection, a trans-y mission` gearing and casing adapted to contain a supply of inelastic Huid, a pump device having a pumping -chamber and mechanism actuated by the pressure of the inelastic Huid in said cham-l ber for operating said clutch rod and brake connection to disengage thel clutch and set the brake, and a valve operatively connected with said controllever and disposed to open the suction side and close the exhaust side to render the pump active to create pressure of the Huid on the exhaust side, and close the suction side and open the exhaust side to render the pump inactive.

9. In combination with a controlling means, a clutch rod, a transmission gearing and lcasing therefor adapted to contain a supply of inelastic fluid, a pump device having a pumping .chamber provided with a relief port and spring' actuated valve therefor, mechanism actuated fby the pressure of therefor and clutch rod, transmission gearing and p the inelastic fluid in said chamber for lsol ` circulating system therefor, means including a valve disposed to open the suction side and close the exhaust side of the pump to create a pressure on the exhaust side of the pump, and means actuated by the pressure on the exhaust side for controlling the vehicle brake. l

11. An' automatic control for power ropelled vehicles comprising a pump, a, uid circulating system therefor, in communication with the transmission casing of the vehicle, a controlling valve mounted to obstruct the flow of the Huid in said system and thereby create a pressure on the exhaust side ofthe pump, a clutch, and a system v connected therewith and communicating with said systemand actuated by the pressure on said exhaust side of the pump for disengaging the clutch.

12. An automatic brake control for power propelled vehicles comprising a pump, a fluid circulating system, in communication with the transmission casing of the vehicle, a controlling valve mounted to obstruct the flow of the fluid in said system, a clutch, and pistons having cylinders communicating with said system and operatively connected respectively with the clutch and brake, the obstruction fof the flow of fluid in said stem creating a pressure on the exhaust Side of the pump 'for operating said pistons to disengage the clutchl and set the brake.

13. An automatic control for power ropelled vehicles comprising a pump, a uid circulating systemftherefor, in communication with the transmission casing of the vehicle, means for creating a pressure on the exhaust side of the pump, and means actuated by ,said pressure for controlling the vehicle brake and clutch.

14. An automatic control for power propelled vehicles comprising a Huid circulating system, means including a valve disposed in the circulating system for opening the suction side and closing the exhaust side of' the s stem for creating a pressure in said circulyating system, and mechanism actuated through the pressure of the fluid on the exhaust side of said pressure creating means for controlling the,l clutch of said vehicle;

15. An automatic control for power propelled vehicles comprising a fluid circulating system, in communication with the transmiss1on casing of the vehicle, means "for creatmg a pressure in sa1d c1rculat1ng system,

and mechanism actuated through the pres-u sure of the fluid on the exhaust side of said pressure creating means for controlling the clutch and brake of said vehicle.

16. An automatic control for power propolled vehicles comprising a fluid circulating system, in communication with the transmission casing of the vehicle, means in the system for obstructing the flow of fluid and thereby creating a pressure on the exhaust side of the system, whereby movement of the circulating fluid will be retarded, for thev purpose specified.

17. An automatic control for power pro# pelled vehicles comprising a pump and a fluid circulating system therefor, in com'- munication'with the transmission casing of the vehicle, means in said system for obstructing the flow of fluid therein to create va pressure on the exhaust side of the pump,

clutch and brake cylinders, and a pipe connecting said cylinders with the exhaust yside of the pum between said obstructing means and the ex aust port of' the system.. y

18. In a lcontrol mechanism for motor vehicles, the combination with theengine lthrottle, the clutch and the brake of a motor vehicle, of a lever for actuating the throttle, pedals for actuating the clutch and brake, and supplementary mechanism for actuating the clutch and brake controlled through said lever.

19. In a control device for motor vehicles, the combination with the engine throttle, clutch and brakes of a motor vehiclehof a lever for actuating the throttle, pedals for actuating the clutchy and brake, and supplementary mechanism for actuating the clutch and brake controlled through said lever, the clutch control by its pedal being independent of said mechanism.

20. nav vehicle control mechanism, the combination with the engine throttle, the clutch and the brakes of a motor vehicle, of

a control membenfor each of said devices,

and a supplementary mechanism for actuating the clutch and brakes from the control N5 vehicle, of a lever'for controlling the throttle, a lost motion mechanism for actuating the throttle from said lever .afiordinga movement of the latter beyond its idling 0- 'sition' independently of the throttle, an

lost motion mechanism for controlling the clutch and brake unaected by normal move ment off the throttle lever,bnt operable upon movement thereof beyond its idling positlon.

23. A combined clutch and brake control for powerpropelled vehicles comprising a pedal arm, an accelerator rod actuated thereby, a duid circulating system, a clutch and ist movement of said clutch and brake operatlating system, a,clutch and brake operating;

brakeboperating means therein, and a valve operated by said pedal armvat a predeter- -mine-d point in its stroke, and mounted in said system, for controlling the movement of said clutch and' brake operating means.

24. yA combined clutch and brake control for power operated vehicles comprising a pedal arm, a fluid circulating system, a clutch and brake operating means therein, i valve for controlling the flow of inelastic fluid through said system, the initial movement of said pedal arm operating sai-d valve to open said circulating system to connect clutch and release said brake, continued movement of said pedal arm operating the accelerator inde endently of said clutch and brake control, tile return ofsaid pedal arm to its normal position operating said valve to disconnect the clutch and set the brake.

25. A brake control for power propelled vehicles comprising a pedal arm, an accelerator. rod actuated thereby, a fluid circulating system, a brake operating means there* in, and a valve for controlling the flowof fluid through said system and operated by said arm during a part of its stroke to release said fluid and 'actuate said brake operating means.

26. A combined clutch and brake control for power propelled vehicles, comprising an arm, an accelerator rod actuated thereby during a portion of its stroke, a fluid circulating system, a clutch and brake operating means therein, and means mounted Ain said system and operated by said arm during a part of its stroke for controlling the ing means. Y

27. A combined clutch and brake control for power propelled vehicles, comprising a foot operated means, an accelerator device actuated thereby during a portion of its stroke, a fluid circulating system, a clutch and brake operating` means in said system, and means operated -by said foot operated means during a. certain portion of its stroke' for 'controlling the movement of said clutch and brake operating means.

28. A combined clutch and brake control for powerpropelled vehicles, comprising a foot operated arm, an inelastic fluid circumeans in said system, and means controlled by said arm, ,during its movement 'in one directiofn, for (1) releasing said brake and (2) connecting said clutch. and yduring. its movement in the opposite direction, for (1) releasing said "clutch and (2) setting said i brake.

29. The combination with a motor vehicle transmission and clutch shaft, of a fluid brake for the vehicle including a pump casel transmission and mounted within the pump chamber to cooperate with the said first mentioned pump gear for normally main` taining a flow of lubricant from the transmission case through the pump chamber, the said gears being adapted to have operative connection with the propeller shaft of the vehicle, and means for checking thevflow of lubricant between the pump chamber and transmission case. Y f

80. AV fluid brake for motor vehicles including a fluid chamber, a pump case having a pump chamber communicating with the fluid chamber, pumping means within the pump chamber operable to setup a flow offluid between the chambers, means for checking such flow, the pump case being formed with a valve chamber opening into the pump means, the valve plug being shiftable to uncover said vent passage for venting the.

Pump Chamber at a predeterminfailv fluid pressure therein.

i adjustably tensioning the said yieldahle .l

31. The combination with a motor vehicle means operable by the clutch shaft and normally free with respect to the driving shaft of the transmission but adapted to be cou.- pled with the driving shaft when said shaft is coupled with the clutchshaft through the transmission, and means for checking the flow of fluid pumped by said means.

32. The combination with a motor vehicle transmission, of a fluid brake including coacting braking fluid pumping means carried respectively by the'clutch shaft and a shaft of the transmission' and effective through the transmission when actively coupled with the clutch shaft, and means for checking the flow of said fluid. I v

33. In` a fluid brake forrmotor vehicles the combination of a fluid chamber, a pump case having a pump chamber in communication with the fluid chamber, means within the pump chamber operable to set up a flow of fluid between4 the chambers and adapted for connection with a vehicle propeller shaft, and means for automatically venting the pump chamber whereby to prevent locking of the propeller shaft.

In witness whereof, .I have hereunto set my hand this 4 dayof November 1915.

EDWIN GUsT'AvE sfiarilin. 

